Chicago Cubs look to Arrieta to start a new win streak against Pirates

He’s been the Chicago Cubs hottest pitcher in the second half, and Jake Arrieta earned an NL Pitcher of the Month to prove it. Now he looks to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates as the Cubs look to start another winning streak.

The Chicago Cubs’ Jake Arrieta has been hot. We’re talking 2015 hot. It didn’t seem like that would be the case for most of the season, but here we are. He’ll see a repeat of the matchup he faced last Tuesday as Chad Kuhl will take the mound again for the Pittsburgh Pirates, this time at PNC Park.

The Cubs (75-61) saw their winning streak come to an end at the hands of the Atlanta Braves. The Cubs managed just one run against them, but that might be enough for the Cubs Arrieta (14-8, 3.36). Since the All-Star break, Arrieta is 6-1 with a 1.39 ERA. And last Tuesday, Arrieta admitted he didn’t have his best stuff. He was just trying to “compete.” Mission accomplished, Jake.

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For the Pirates (65-72), what looked to have promise has faded into a “wait till next year” feel. Now 7 1/2 games back of the Rockies for the second wild-card spot, things have started to seem bleak for Pirates fans. Kuhl (6-10, 4.54) has impressed since the first of July, posting a 3.44 ERA

After leaving yesterday’s game with dizziness after a collision at second base, Javier Baez was expected to start at shortstop today. But he, in fact, will not as a sore thumb will keep him out of the lineup. Mike Freeman will get the start in his place.

With every game Arrieta pitches well, he’s likely pitching himself out of Chicago and into a bigger free agent deal. The Cubs haven’t said much about it in regards to if they will or won’t. But things don’t look well with each passing game.

Here are the lineups for today’s game:

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First pitch is at 3:05 p.m. CT at PNC Park. ABC 7 and ESPN will have the television coverage, while 670 The Score will have the radio broadcast. Be sure to check back for more notes and tidbits from this game and more!